The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-19
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.

on Burney's resolution providing for u Joint
committee On constitutional amendments.
Resolution authorizing chairmen to have
important bills printed; adopted.
Burgess-A resolution Instructing the
senate finance committee TO repor, upon
the conslitutionality and eNpcdlency Of II
graded land tax.
one feature is that the tax was graded
Accord = to the quantity of Ian | held by
one person. On small tracts. lOr instance,
the tax would be at low rate, and increus-
ing in the rate of taxation as the tract was
larger.
The senate refused to instruct the COM
mitt6e. Burgess gave notice that it would
come up in the shape of bill anyway, and
time would have been saved If the printi-
pie involved and the eXpediency of the
the measure had first been tested by the
committee investigating.
Douglass, of GrnysOn. introduced a bill
to provide rule for shortening terms OF
convicts for good behavior.
Smpkins bill TO fix retail liquor license
at $500, and dealers in quantities from u
quart to gallon 500; more than gallon
sj01. and beer dealers Sl0J.
The bucket shop bill, on motion of Me-
Donald, was made the special order for
Monday.
Senate took recess till noon. and at that
hour went into joint session TO inaugurate
the governor. After retiring from the
house eN-Lieut Gov. Gibbs made few re-
marks, transferring the presidents chair
and gayel to Lieut. .-Gov. Wheeler, who re-
spcnded in lifting terms.
The senate adjourned until tomorrow.
House Memorial fayoring the estab-
lishment of reiormatorv for youthful
criminals and an industrial school for col
ored youths, scientific temperance instruC-
tion ia public schools, and for the charter
ing of cooperative associations.
Clark, of Red River: Bill for the preyen-
ton and punishment of usury, and provid-
ing that all fines collected for violation of
same shat be applied TO the pubic school
fund OF the county wherein collected.
Pope: TO provide for the appointment of
receivers and define their powers and
duties, and to regulate the proceedings
under such appointment.
Bell. of Denton: TO locate and establish
a rciormatory in Nor,h Texas for conyicts
under u years of age, and for well disposed
short term conyicts over u years of age. 1t
proposes to locate the institution west OF
the longitude of Greenville and north of the
Latitude of Waco.
Parks: TO amend the code of criminal
procedure so that justices of the peace and
constables shall receive the ees allowed
them by law in criminal actions from the
be collected by execution from the convict.
Mills: TO prevent any future changes In
public roads except such as will shorten
them.
Harrison: To punish by fine of from $40
TO $500 county officers who fail TO make re-
port OF moneys collected ut every regular
Term of the commissioners court, as re-
quircd by law.
Beard: To punish by fine not exceeding
SlU0 persons who refuse to obey summons
to les ify before justices of the peace re-
garding violations of the law.
Page: A general revenue bill, already
synopszed in Persons Reports.
Clegg: To require telegraph companies to
deliver messages within u reasonable time,
fixing a penalty o. SO for failure, besioes
daiRages recoverable by law.
Newton, of Tarrant: To establish a house
of correction and provide for the govern
mcnt and maintenance of same.
IIargis: furnishing by fine Of $500 and re-
moval from office Of any member of a
city council who shall have any Interest in
contracts with the city government.
GarwooG's bill to amerd the laws t. pro-
tect mechanics and laborers on railways
against the failure of owners or agents to
pay their wages was reported favorably by
judiciary commit 9 No. |. IL gives
mechanics a lien for work of their teams
and tools, as well as for the labor OF their
hands in the employ of railroads.
Nelson's bill increasing the penalty for
carrying deadly weapons was favorably re-
ported with an amendment.
A substitute for the bill of Moore, OF
Travis, to prohibit lire marine and inland
insurance companies from entering into
combinations fixing rates of insurance, was
reported.
McGehee's bill, providing that any per-
son who has former wife or husband liy-
ing who shall marry another in this State,
shall be punished by imprisonment in the
penitentlary for term not less than two
nor more than five years, was favorably re-
ported.
Hudgin's bill to amend the law Of pro-
cedure In court trials was favoraby re-
ported. Ii requires the judge to decide Is
sues of law before the arguments Of attor-
news commence. IL also gives the party
wko has the burden of proof the right TO
open and close argument, and provides that
where there are several other parties bay-
ing separate claims or defenscs and repre-
sented by different counsel the court shall
prescribe the order Of arguments.
Page, from commit tee on education, re-
ported fayorably, with amendments, Pages
blll 10 pi oyide for uniform system OF text
books for the public schools.
Bell, of Cooke, for the committee on
privileges and elections, reported upon the
contest of Williamson VS.. Haines, submit
ted y resolution seating w. A. Williamson,
which was adopted and the member sworn
In.
At this point the two houses went into
Joint session for the insugui alton Of gov
ernor and lieutenant-g0yernor.
The committee on revision OF rules re-
ported, submitting several immaterial
changes. Among the most important was
one making ali ex-members entitled by
courtesy to seats on the floor, and there
confning the privilege except to members
and officers. The revised rules further re-
quire synopsis Of all bills 10 be printed In
the daily journal. Report adopted.
Camp offered a res Tuition that commit
tee ofthree be appointed to investigats GER